Dai Phung Communal House

The communal house is spacious, imposing, and ancient, dating from the Later Le period(17th century)located at the head of the village, facing the ancient Day River and Mount Tan Vien. To the left is the pagoda“Three Teachings”and the prosperous surrounding village hamlets

Dai Phung Communal House jointly worships two deities: Tich Lich Hoa Quang and the famous general Vu Hung.

Tich Lich Hoa Quang is a heavenly deity(one of the Four Dharma deities: Cloud – Rain – Thunder – Lightning). The deity was worshipped as the village guardian spirit by the entire former Phung canton (8 villages)(Dai Phung, Phuong Tri, Dong Khe, Doai Khe, Thap Thuong, Thuy Ung, Thu Que, and Thuan Thuong).

The second is a human deity, the private village guardian of Dai Phung. He is the famous general Vu Hung, born on the 18th day of the first lunar month in the Nhan Than year during the reign of King Tran Hien Tong. When he was born, he had a magnificent appearance, with a red mark on his back dividing into four directions, so his common name was Bon, and his title was Vu Hung.

In the late Tran dynasty, the Cao barbarians often came to the western side of the capital Thang Long to harass and plunder the people's property. King Tran Nghe Tong issued an edict calling for talented people. Vu Hung, in his youth, was naturally intelligent, handsome, and well versed in military strategy... and was granted by the king the position of commander of the central army, directing generals and troops to fight the enemy.

General Vu Hung stopped and established a garrison at Dai Phung village; the people unanimously assisted him, so the main base became increasingly solid. To this day, around the communal house there are place names such as: Ao Don, Nha Mon hamlet, Phu alley, Cu hamlet...

Once, Vu Hung led naval and land troops out to the mouth of the Hat River and advanced straight into the stronghold of the Cao barbarians. That day, the river wind blew strongly and the boats sped like arrows. The enemy was attacked by surprise, could not react in time, fled in disorder, and had to surrender. General Vu Hung's army won a complete victory and followed the great river back to the capital to report the triumph. King Nghe Tong joyfully went in person outside the city to welcome the victorious army and held a banquet in reward. Vu Hung was promoted to Do Dai Ngu Su and remained in the capital.

After his death, he was conferred the title: “Tran Dynasty Central Army Nga Bon Vu Hung Great King”. The people of Dai Phung village went to the capital to bring his honorific title back and establish a temple, with incense and worship for all generations. On his birthday, the 18th day of the first lunar month, offerings formerly included: buffalo, cow, pig, glutinous rice, wine... and performances of games, dancing, and singing. On his death anniversary, the 18th day of the 11th lunar month, the offerings consist only of betel and areca, and pure incense and flowers.

According to the deity genealogy, Dai Phung Communal House dates from the Tran dynasty, but its current artistic architecture dates from the 17th, 18th, 11th, and also 20th centuries. We can identify that the communal house was built on a large scale and beautifully decorated in the 17th century (the main hall). In the 18th and 19th centuries, the front ceremonial hall and rear sanctuary were added... and it was repaired many times.

The special architectural value of Dai Phung Communal House is the main hall, shaped like the character “one”, made entirely of xoan wood, with huge main columns that a person cannot embrace. Particularly notable are the wood carvings reflecting the daily life of contemporary society. A typical example is the decorative motif depicting the scene “Returning in Triumph to Pay Respects to Ancestors”. The procession back to the village includes scenes of singers in the traditional ca tru singing style; the panels depict a bustling village festival with many performance games such as wrestling, shuttlecock kicking... Especially remarkable are scenes: young men and women in love, fairies bathing in a lotus pond, drinking wine, playing chess... from sacred creatures such as dragons, phoenixes, horses, and elephants to animals close to people such as cats, geckos, birds, and fish... all are vividly carved in the interior of the communal house. These massive, magnificent sculptures become a joyful, intimate, and warm living space of the homeland. Therefore, Dai Phung Communal House was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 1991 and rankedas a national-level relic;in 2019 it was recognized and rankedas a special national relic.

Dai Phung is also a village of learning and culture, where a remarkable treasury of folk humorous stories has been passed down. A folk verse says:

“Dai Phung tells tall tales all its life

Phuong Tri patches loincloths, enough to play and feast to the full...

These are witty, humorous, satirical stories of the industrious laborers in the homeland fields. They entrust their love for the village and fields to the ancient communal house. The stories:Amaranth with its roots in Dai Phung and its tips at Sau Market; chili plants so tall you have to set up a ladder to pick the fruit; the great drum...at first hearing they seem absurd, but when explained they are reasonable and fitting. Dai Phung also has the Ta Dang family line, famous for four generations of academic successes recorded on a stele at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi. Since ancient times, the Dai Phung communal house festival has been held three times a year. The 18th day of the first lunar month is the birthday of Saint Vu Hung, the largest festival of the year; the second is the 12th day of the second lunar month, commemorating the god Tich Lich Hoa Quang, the common tutelary god of all Tong Phung; the third festival is the 18th day of the 11th lunar month, commemorating the death anniversary of Lord Vu Hung.

On the 18th day of the first lunar month, the whole village of Dai Phung bustles into the festival. Every household prepares offerings, and the hamlets tidy up and beautify the area. The festival organizing committee establishes and assigns each unit to prepare the rituals so that they are solemn and reverent, expressing admiration and gratitude for the merits of the tutelary god. The festival portion creates a joyful and united atmosphere, with rich entertainments and expanded space.

In front of the communal house, a five-colored flag and the national flag are hung high, and gongs and drums resound. The scenery and people are excited to welcome the happy day; hamlets and lanes decorate altars for worship and are ready to welcome the procession as it passes. This is an occasion to display and show off the precious products of each family after a year of labor, as if to report to the gods the achievements of the villagers. There are altars, incense tables, and precious wooden objects made by skilled craftsmen. There are ornamental pots, bonsai, and flowers and leaves in all colors from the hobby of ornamental plants. Then there is the five-fruit tray: pomelo, banana, orange... products of thehome gardenbrought out for offering. The village roads and lanes are crowded and merry, with people and vehicles bustling to the festival. Each hamlet has its own different beauty.

In years when a grand festival is held, Dai Phung village invites villages in the commune such as Dong Khe, Doai Khe, Phuong Tri... to join the procession council. The palanquin processions of the villages are grand, with flags and banners covering the sky and drums and gongs resounding. Men, women, elders, and children, all classes and organizations, join the festival. The great procession starts from the Dai Phung communal house yard, passes through Dong Khe and Doai Khe villages, goes up the dike slope, circles Tam Giao pagoda, and then returns to assemble in the communal house yard. The majestic and awe-inspiring momentum of the procession reenacts the historic march of General Vu Hung, who defeated the Cao invaders and restored peace to the country.

The large-scale gathering of forces at the Dai Phung festival is also a demonstration of the combined strength of the people and scenery here. It is an image of 'people healthy, goods prosperous.' The ritual and festival at Dai Phung communal house are integrated: while solemn and reverent ceremonies according to traditional rites take place inside the communal house, many lively entertainments take place outside. In the past there were games such as swinging, card games, climbing the greased pole, catching ducks... Today the games of human chess competition and pigeon releasing are still maintained...

The human chess team is always strengthened and supplemented before the festival day. The hamlets select and recommend the chief chess player, male general, female general, and chess pieces according to the rules of a game of xiangqi. Participants in the chess team have moral qualities and prestige in the village. The chess generals and pieces are all handsome young men and beautiful young women moving boldly about.

The organizing committee buys a set of chess pieces made of good wood, beautifully painted and gilded, carved with Chinese characters: General, Advisor, Elephant, Chariot... with the full number of pieces as in a xiangqi set. The people playing roles on the chessboard sew and buy their own clothes, hats, parasols... in bright colors.

Before the competition, the two chief chess players lead the team (36 people) solemnly into the ceremony for the saint, stepping to the rhythm of the khau drum. They come out, walk once around to greet the spectators and set up the chessboard formation. The male chess general and female chess general sit on a table, with chairs and armrests, a parasol shading their heads, in a majestic posture, overseeing the formation. The chess pieces sit on chairs in the yard according to the positions of the chess competition rules. When the chess player moves a piece, the person playing that piece moves accordingly. When a piece is eliminated, the person playing that piece leaves the chessboard. There is a person playing a merry clown, skilled at improvising, composing poetry, and reciting poetry... with content suited to the moves and steps of the game. The rhythm of the khau drum constantly urges them on, and the clown's words tease the competitors, making the atmosphere of the game lively and attractive...

The Dai Phung communal house festival is an occasion to express gratitude to the ancestors who had merit toward the village and the country. It displays typical products of the value of people in good health and 'prosperous goods.' At the same time, it satisfies the need for exchange and creativity, enriching the cultural life of the community. The years when a grand festival is held meet the criteria of a regional festival.